A/N: So, when I said more frequent updates, I lied, and I'm sorry. Last weekend I was traveling and had a concert and didn't have time. I'm going to TRY to get back on the 'every weekend update schedule,' but I'm not making any promises. School started this past Wednesday, and half of my teachers didn't even bother to wait until the second day to hand out piles of homework. That and the fact that most of my classes are AP and that I start work again soon will mean I'm very busy, but I will try to update every Sunday.

So, on that note, please Read, Review, and Enjoy!

Lily kicked it into high gear the month before the N.E.W.T.s. She would study for hours on end, during class breaks, or whenever she had a spare minute.

She was – like usual – sitting alone in the Heads' room, books and notes spread out all around her. About halfway through her notes on 6th year Potions, the portrait was slammed open and James jumped through.

He plopped down next to Lily on the couch and pulled her closer to him. "How long have you been studying today, Lils?"

She turned her weary emerald eyes to him and said, "Not very long."

James scrutinized her. "I left you here after breakfast, and since then have only seen you now and at lunch. Really, Lils, how long have you been studying today?"

"Six hours," she said quietly.

James hugged her tightly, saying, "Merlin, Lils! You need to take a break! Sirius and I are about to go fly around the pitch, and you should come with. If it helps, you really don't need to be studying Potions."

Lily smiled at him and said, "You're sweet, James, but you're also one of the people who do need to study Potions. Stay here and study with me."

James looked at her in horror. "But, Lils, Sirius is waiting, and you've studied for so long, and you haven't flown in forever, and I really don't need to study Potions, and-"

"James," Lily said, cutting him off. "You really aren't that good at Potions, and these are our N.E.W.T.s we're talking about. Please, James, humor the girl you love, and sit and study with me."

So James sat down next to Lily, saying, "You're a smart woman, Lils, you can definitely spot a guy's weakness."

Lily grinned at him. "I know, and I plan on using my gifts to my advantage. Now, before you can say anything else, tell me what the properties of Moonstone are."

Half an hour later, the portrait hole slammed open again. This time, Sirius stormed in, shouldering his broom.

"Prongs, mate, tell me what's so hard about 'Go get your girlfriend and have her come fly with us?'"

He then noticed that James was sitting next to a very annoyed Lily, and quickly muttered apologies to her as he stretched out on a couch.

James put down his notes and sarcastically said, "Sirius Black, I'd like you to meet my girlfriend, Lily Evans. So sorry for not introducing you earlier."

"Calm down, Prongs. I know she's stubborn. I just wanted to make sure the two of you weren't making dark purple of anything, and then I come in and see you studying. Stop studying, Lils! See the light! Come fly with us!"

Lily decided to start on Sirius at that point. "Sirius Black, do you not get it? Our N.E.W.T.s are in one month! We need to study for them, even if we think we know it all. These tests aren't like the O.W.L.s-"

"Lils?" James interrupted, as Sirius shut the portrait door.

"-They're much harder, and have a lot more riding on them. You have to get good scores to get a decent job, and you need top marks to get into the Auror Academy! How we do on these tests-"

"Lils?"

"-Determines our whole futures. They're only in a month, Sirius, a month! You say you don't need to study, and keep putting it off, and all of a sudden you've got two days until your first N.E.W.T. and you haven't studied at all, and-"

"LILY!"

"What?" she cried, spinning to face James. "Why do you keep interrupting me?"

"Lils?" James said, calmly.

"Yes, James?"

"He's been gone for the past five minutes."